Approval of FAMPO Technical Committee Meeting Minutes of April 11, 2016
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FAMPO Technical Committee Meeting Minutes April 11, 2015 www.fampo.gwregion.org/fampo-technical-committee Members Present: Mr. Dan Cole, Chair, County of Spotsylvania Mr. Bassam Amin, City of Fredericksburg Mr. Erik Nelson, City of Fredericksburg Ms. Angeline Crowder, County of Caroline Mr. Jack Green, County of King George Mr. Linwood Thomas, County of King George Mr. Doug Morgan, County of Spotsylvania Mr. Joey Hess, County of Stafford Mr. Tim Roseboom, Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) Mr. Rodney White, Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FRED) Ms. Diana Utz, George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) Ms. Cynthia Porter Johnson, Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) Ms. Michelle Shropshire, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Mr. Craig Van Dussen, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Mr. Dan Grinnell, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Ms. Christine Hoeffner, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Mr. Cheng Yan, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Others Present: Mr. Stephen Haynes, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Staff Members Present: Mr. Paul Agnello, FAMPO Mr. Lloyd Robinson, FAMPO Mr. Daniel Reese, FAMPO Mr. Nicholas Quint, FAMPO Ms. Fiona Curtis, FAMPO Ms. JoAnna Roberson, GWRC CALL TO ORDER The Technical Committee meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. APPROVAL OF FAMPO TECHNICAL COMMITTEE AGENDA The April 11, 2016 FAMPO Technical Committee agenda was approved as submitted. April 11, 2016 – FAMPO Technical Committee Meeting Minutes 1 APPROVAL OF FAMPO TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 14, 2016 The minutes from the March 14, 2016, FAMPO Technical Committee meeting were accepted as submitted. REVIEW OF FAMPO POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING ON MARCH 21, 2016 Mr. Agnello advised that the Policy Committee minutes are included in today’s agenda packet, and he would highlight the items of significance. Mr. Agnello stated that both GWRC and FAMPO adopted Resolution No. 16-27 which endorses the FY2017 FASTLANE Grant Application for the I-95 Rappahannock River Crossings Project. Mr. Agnello stated that there was discussion and concurrence among the Policy Committee members that FAMPO be considered as a stakeholder member on the I-95/395 Transit/Transportation Demand Management (TDM) committee. It was a recommendation from the Policy Committee that FAMPO draft a letter for the chairman’s signature stating the request. Mr. Agnello advised that a copy of the letter submitted on behalf of the Policy Committee is included in today’s agenda packet under the Correspondence category. PUBLIC COMMENT None DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS a.) Resolution No. 16-28, Directing that a Public Comment Period and Public Hearing be held prior to the Adoption of the FY2017 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) – Mr. Paul Agnello Mr. Agnello stated that the UPWP needs to be updated annually. Before being adopted, a 30-day public comment period and public hearing are required. Mr. Agnello stated that Resolution No. 16- 28 is asking that the public hearing be set to begin on April 20, 2016. Comments will be received until the close of business on May 19th. A public hearing will be held in May and the Policy Committee will be asked to endorse the resolution after all comments received have been addressed, and UPWP amended if necessary. Upon motion by Mr. Nelson and seconded by Mr. Cole, with all concurring, Resolution No. 16-28 was endorsed with a recommendation that it be adopted by the Policy Committee at the upcoming April 18th meeting. b.) Transportation Updates – Mr. Paul Agnello April 11, 2016 – FAMPO Technical Committee Meeting Minutes 2 i. FY2017-2022 Six Year Improvement Program (SYIP) Public Meetings and Schedule Mr. Agnello advised that the VDOT Fredericksburg District’s spring public meeting is scheduled to occur at 5:30 p.m. on May 10th at Germanna Community College’s Spotsylvania Campus. Mr. Agnello stated that this meeting would not be designed to take comments on the draft Six-Year Plan; however, it would allow one to make comments in regard to the draft HB2 funding plan. Mr. Agnello advised that since last month’s meeting regarding the FASTLANE/TIGER Grant applications the following updates have occurred: Re: TIGER Grant applications – Mr. Agnello stated that VRE will be submitting a TIGER Grant application for station improvements at three VRE stations; two of which are in the FAMPO region – the Leeland Road Station and the Brooke station. The third station slated for improvement is the Alexandria station. Re: FASTLANE applications – Mr. Agnello stated that VDOT will be submitting FASTLANE applications for numerous projects located in both this region and in Northern Virginia that meets the qualification criteria for a project being submitted for consideration. Mr. Agnello stated that to ensure that neither FAMPO nor GWRC would not be competing with the State FASTLANE application effort being led by VDOT, that GWRC will not be submitting any applications for FASTLANE and that FAMPO staff have ceased preparing a FASTLANE application at this time and given the Benefit/Cost Analysis work completed for the River Crossing projects to VDOT for use in the State application. Mr. Agnello stated that the VRE projects that were being considered initially by FAMPO are the two in Stafford County (Leeland Road and Brooke) and VRE is already including these project requests under their TIGER application submittal process. Mr. Agnello relayed that the application window for project submissions for the second round of HB2 will begin on August 1st. Mr. Agnello stated that a call for projects will be made from staff; and a regional economic development plan will be completed by FAMPO staff and submitted for the first time for round two of the HB2 scoring process. Mr. Agnello stated that other areas within the State that submitted an economic development plan for round one of HB2 project considerations received higher scores and project funding opportunities were maximized. Mr. Agnello stated that in assisting with the upcoming 2045 CLRP efforts that an amendment to the existing CLRP is planned to be available by the June/July time frame. ii. State March 31st Elected Official – Media Briefing c.) Stafford VRE Station Projects – Mr. Paul Agnello & Ms. Christine Hoeffner, VRE April 11, 2016 – FAMPO Technical Committee Meeting Minutes 3 i. State March 29th Debriefing on HB2 Unselected Candidate Project ii. VRE Presentation on TIGER Grant Proposal Ms. Hoeffner advised that VRE has six projects that are awaiting final funding allocations that are scheduled for the construction phases and notice to proceed by July of 2018. Three of the six are already 100% funded (Lorton Station, Slaters Lane Crossover, and Rippon Station). The three projects are not fully funded to date are the Alexandria Station, Brooke Station and Leeland Road Station. The three projects that are currently unfunded will result in an approximate $21 million shortfall. In order to ensure that these three projects move forward, VRE is submitting a TIGER grant application to cover the funding deficits. Ms. Hoeffner stated that the minimum amount of funding allocated from an approved TIGER grant application is $5 million. Ms. Hoeffner stated that a request of application approval of $20 million is high but not unusual. Ms. Hoeffner advised that as the projects already have existing funding allocated to them they are hoping to be able to use this as a leveraging tool in obtaining TIGER grant approvals. Mr. Agnello asked if a letter of support from both Stafford County and FAMPO would be beneficial. Ms. Hoeffner stated that VRE missed the deadline for obtaining support from Prince William County; however, they have letters endorsing support from NVTA, the City of Alexandria, MWCOG, and Sun-Cal (private partner/developer for Potomac Shores) and would greatly appreciate a letter of support from this region as well. Ms. Hoeffner stated that TIGER grant funding needs to be allocated by FY2019. Mr. Agnello stated that once the final CMAQ funding allocations are released that staff can review the allocations and the years expended, and it is possible that funding year allocations can be leveraged to also provide additional funding for the completion of the three projects. Mr. Robinson asked if a partial TIGER grant is awarded, which of the projects would have the higher potential for selection –the Alexandria project or the projects in Stafford County at Brooke and Leeland Road. Ms. Hoeffner stated that the grant request is being submitted for three project elements: Alexandria and Brooke/Leeland combined. Ms. Hoeffner stated all three station improvements are required to enable opening of the Potomac Shores station under the VRE-DRPT- CSXT memorandum of understanding (MOU) and equally important for the overall rail enhancements; however,she would find an answer to this question and reply back to staff. Ms. Hoeffner advised that the station improvements would provide the following VRE benefits: Support of VRE’s System Plan to year 2040; service expansion; longer trains with additional trains; and future bi-directional service options Improvement of operational flexibility on the rail corridors and to minimize station dwelling times; and to provide access to platforms at multiple tracks and to lengthen the existing train platforms April 11, 2016 – FAMPO Technical Committee Meeting Minutes 4 Improvement of both pedestrian and ADA safety access by eliminating at-grade pedestrian crossings at the Alexandria Station and providing separated grade access between the parking and platform areas In closing, Ms. Hoeffner stated that the TIGER grant application demonstrates economic competitiveness; quality of life; safety improvements; environmental sustainability and partnership opportunities. iii. Resolution No. 16-29, Endorsing the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) TIGER Grant Application Mr. Agnello stated that Resolution No. 16-29 is requesting committee endorsement of VRE’s submission of the TIGER grant application. Ms. Hoeffner stated that the Resolution included in today’s agenda packet needed some amendments in the first two whereas bullet points.